Shawna was born and raised in Central Florida. Since she was a young child, her dream was to work in pediatrics, following in the footsteps of her beloved pediatrician, Dr. Carter. Shawna attended Apopka High School, where she was a member of the Medical Careers Magnet program. Following high school, Shawna attended the University of Central Florida where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Shawna worked as a Registered Nurse at Florida Hospital for Children on the Pediatric Medical Surgical unit for four years. Shawna studied to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the University of South Alabama, and is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. Prior to joining the CENTA team in January 2018, Shawna worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Powers Pediatrics in Orlando, FL. Shawna has a passion for caring for pediatric patients, and loves establishing relationships with her patients and watching them grow. In her free time, Shawna enjoys spending time with her husband and family, taking her dog Diesel to the beach, cooking, reading, and running.